Fighting for honor : the history of African martial art traditions in the Atlantic world

Desch Obi explores a cultural continuity originating in Africa and that is as old as early slave settlements in South America and as contemporary as hip-hop culture in this thorough survey of the history of African martial arts techniques. He maps the translation of numerous physical combat techniques across three continents and several centuries to illustrate how these practices evolved over time and are still recognizable in American culture today. Some of these art traditions were part of African military training while others were for self-defense and personal discipline. Desch Obi, himself a practitioner of mgba wrestling and engolo kick-fighting, also explores the spiritual dimensions of these combat arts.Grounded in historical and cultural anthropological methodologies, Desch Obi's investigation traces the influence of well-delineated African traditions on long-observed but misunderstood African and African American cultural activities in North America, Brazil, and the Caribbean. He links the Brazilian martial art capoeira to reports of slave activities recorded in colonial and antebellum North America. Likewise, Desch Obi locates images of the African stick-fighting techniques of kalenda in slave depictions. His study takes on more modern subjects when he links movements from this same wellspring of traditions to break dancing and clown dancing techniques that have peppered urban culture in recent decades. Throughout the study Desch Obi examines the ties between physical mastery of these arts and changing perceptions of honor. The Presence Of African Influence And Tradition In The Americas Has Long Been Recognized In Art, Music, Language, Agriculture, And Religion. T. J. Desch Obi Explores Another Cultural Continuity That Is As Old As Eighteenth-century Slave Settlements In South America And As Contemporary As Hip Hop Culture. In This Thorough Survey Of African Martial Arts Techniques, Obi Maps The Translation Of Numerous Physical Combat Techniques Across Three Continents And Several Centuries To Illustrate How These Practices Evolved Over Time And Are Still Recognizable In American Culture Today. Some Of These Art Traditions Were Part Of African Military Training While Others Were For Self-defense And Spiritual Discipline. Grounded In Historical And Cultural Anthropological Methodologies, Obi's Investigation Traces The Influence Of Well-delineated African Traditions On Long-observed But Misunderstood African And African American Cultural Activities In North America, Brazil, And The Caribbean. He Links The Brazilian Martial Art Capoeira To Reports Of Slave Activities Recorded In Colonial And Antebellum North America. Likewise Obi Connects Images Of The Kalenda Stick-fighting Techniques To The Haitian Revolution. Throughout The Study Obi Examines The Ties Between Physical Mastery Of These Arts And Changing Perceptions Of Honor. This Rich History Of The Arrival And Dissemination Of African Martial Arts In The Atlantic World Offers A New Vantage For Furthering Our Understanding Of The Powerful Influence Of Enslaved Populations On Our Collective Social History.--book Jacket. Introduction: Divining An Approach -- Birth Of Traditions -- From Across The Kalunga: Pastoral Pugilism In Southern Angola To 1860 -- Bloodless Duels: Combative Custom In Biafra To 1860 -- Across The Kalunga -- Enslaved Honor: The Utility Of Martial Art In North America -- Return Passages: Ritual And Revolutionary Liberation From Bondage In The Francophone Caribbean -- Urban Inversions: Combat Societies In Rio De Janeiro -- Conclusion: Embodied Traditions. T.j. Desch Obi. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. A groundbreaking investigation into the migration of martial arts techniques across continents and centuriesThe presence of African influence and tradition in the Americas has long been recognized in art, music, language, agriculture, and religion. T. J. Desch-Obi explores another cultural continuity that is as old as eighteenth-century slave settlements in South America and as contemporary as hip-hop culture. In this thorough survey of the history of African martial arts techniques, Desch-Obi maps the translation of numerous physical combat techniques across three continents and several centuries to illustrate how these practices evolved over time and are still recognizable in American culture today. Some of these art traditions were part of African military training while others were for self-defense and spiritual discipline.Grounded in historical and cultural anthropological methodologies, Desch-Obi's investigation traces the influence of well-delineated African traditions on long-observed but misunderstood African and African American cultural activities in North America, Brazil, and the Caribbean. He links the Brazilian martial art capoeira to reports of slave activities recorded in colonial and antebellum North America. Likewise Desch-Obi connects images of the kalenda African stick-fighting techniques to the Haitian Revolution. Throughout the study Desch-Obi examines the ties between physical mastery of these arts and changing perceptions of honor.Including forty-five illustrations, this rich history of the arrival and dissemination of African martial arts in the Atlantic world offers a new vantage for furthering our understanding of the powerful influence of enslaved populations on our collective social history. The presence of African influence and tradition in the Americas has long been recognized in art, music, language, agriculture, and religion. T. J. Desch-Obi explores another cultural continuity that is as old as eighteenth-century slave settlements in South America and as contemporary as hip-hop culture. In this thorough survey of the history of African martial arts techniques, Desch-Obi maps the translation of numerous physical combat techniques across three continents and several centuries to illustrate how these practices evolved over time and are still recognizable in American culture today. Some of these art traditions were part of African military training while others were for self-defense and spiritual discipline. Grounded in historical and cultural anthropological methodologies, Desch-Obi's investigation traces the influence of well-delineated African traditions on long-observed but misunderstood African and African American cultural activities in North America, Brazil, and the Caribbean. He links the Brazilian martial art capoeira to reports of slave activities recorded in colonial and antebellum North America. Likewise Desch-Obi connects images of the kalenda African stick-fighting techniques to the Haitian Revolution. Throughout the study Desch-Obi examines the ties between physical mastery of these arts and changing perceptions of honor. Including forty-five illustrations, this rich history of the arrival and dissemination of African martial arts in the Atlantic world offers a new vantage for furthering our understanding of the powerful influence of enslaved populations on our collective social history. The presence of African influence and tradition in the Americas has long been recognized in art, music, language, agriculture, and religion. T. J. Desch Obi explores another cultural continuity that is as old as eighteenth-century slave settlements in South America and as contemporary as hip hop culture. In this thorough survey of African martial arts techniques, Obi maps the translation of numerous physical combat techniques across three continents and several centuries to illustrate how these practices evolved over time and are still recognizable in American culture today. Some of these art traditions were part of African military training while others were for self-defense and spiritual discipline. Grounded in historical and cultural anthropological methodologies, Obi's investigation traces the influence of well-delineated African traditions on long-observed but misunderstood African and African American cultural activities in North America, Brazil, and the Caribbean. He links the Brazilian martial art capoeira to reports of slave activities recorded in colonial and antebellum North America. Likewise Obi connects images of the kalenda stick-fighting techniques to the Haitian revolution. Throughout the study Obi examines the ties between physical mastery of these arts and changing perceptions of honor. Including forty-two illustrations, this rich history of the arrival and dissemination of African martial arts in the Atlantic world offers a new vantage for furthering our understanding of the powerful influence of enslaved populations on our collective social history. Dedication 6 Contents 8 List of Illustrations 9 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction: Divining an Approach 20 Part One: Birth of Traditions 34 1 From across the Kalunga: Pastoral Pugilism in Southern Angola to 1860 36 2 Bloodless Duels: Combative Custom in Biafra to 1860 71 Part Two: Across the Kalunga 94 3 Enslaved Honor: The Utility of Martial Art in North America 96 4 Return Passages: Ritual and Revolutionary Liberation from Bondage in the Francophone Caribbean 141 5 Urban Inversions: Combat Societies in Rio de Janeiro 171 Conclusion: Embodied Traditions 218 Appendix: Engolo Techniques 238 Notes 244 Select Bibliography 338 Index 358